The Big Stage to the Small Screen: My Fave Broadway Stars Who’ve Killed It In TV/Movies

I was watching Younger the other day (SPOILER ALERT – since I haven’t been doing full recaps, the key things you need to know are that Kelsey was sleeping with two guys, Charles stopped being a jerk, Josh is still in love with Liza, and Diana is still the queen of everything), and I was really enjoying a scene between Sutton Foster and guest star Christian Borle.

In addition to thinking how weird it must be to film smoochy scenes with your ex (they used to be married!), I was appreciating that I was watching two Broadway POWERHOUSES in a show on TV Land. Sutton Foster, of course, received two Tony awards (for Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes) before starring in Bunheads (man, I miss that show) and then moving onto Younger, and Christian Borle was the original Emmett in Legally Blonde the musical (he then starred in Smash, which I still maintain was underappreciated).

It got me thinking – a LOT of my favorite TV and movie actors got their start in the theater. Such as . . .

Patti LuPone

I mean, come on, how could I NOT start the list with Miss Patti? First, we’re both from the same part of Long Island, NY. As a musical theater geek, I grew up listening to her as Eva Peron in Evita and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. But I ALSO grew up watching her as Elizabeth “Libby” Thatcher in Life Goes On (yes, I’m old, get over it). I also really loved Patti’s guest star stints, particularly on Frasier and Law & Order. She is probably my absolute favorite mezzo ever to have graced the stage.

Jerry Orbach

Speaking of Law & Order, the same man who played Lenny Briscoe (everyone’s favorite snarky detective) was a versatile Broadway leading man, starring in the original productions of The Fantasticks, Chicago (he was THE original Billy Flynn – take THAT, Richard Gere!), and 42^nd Street. Of course, we also love Jerry as Baby’s father in Dirty Dancing – too bad he didn’t get up on the stage in that one! At least he got to show off his musical chops when he voiced Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Meryl Streep

Of course the fabulous Ms. Streep has a theater pedigree. She too is a Tony nominee, though her stage credits lean more in the drama direction than musical. That’s not to say she doesn’t have singing chops – she starred in the film adaptation of Into the Woods, and if you’ve been anywhere near a television over the past few weeks, you know that she’s back in the next installment of the Mamma Mia! Movie series. To me, though, she will always be Miranda Priestly. That’s all.

Julie Andrews

I mean, DUH. Before winning all of our hearts as Mary Poppins (side note: I love Julie the mostest, but I absolutely cannot WAIT until the new version with Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda comes out this winter), she starred in stage versions of My Fair Lady and Camelot. And many years after her glorious performance in the film versions of The Sound of Music and Victor/Victoria (which she also performed on the stage), she of course charmed us all as the Queen of Genovia in The Princess Diaries. There is not one room that Julie does not own the minute she walks in.

Taye Diggs

Here’s someone who has been on my celebrity crush list for DECADES. He originated the role of Benny in Rent before transitioning to television and film, going from soaps to How Stella Got Her Groove Back (so good). I loved his guest appearances on The West Wing (oh yes, I am a Wingnut) and Will & Grace, but I was also happy when he went back to Broadway to star in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He can truly do it all!

Anna Kendrick

My GIRL. Anna was only 12 when she earned a Tony nomination for her performance in High Society! She may not have had a lengthy theater career, but I’m thinking that’s only because she went on to be so successful in the film world. She earned tons of recognition for her performance opposite George Clooney in Up In the Air, and of course, she is the heart and soul and resting bitch face of the Pitch Perfect series – movies that always make me laugh, cry, and sing along (don’t lie, you sing along, too).

Who are YOUR favorite theater thespians who have transitioned to TV and/or movies? Do you think there should be more Broadway stars on TV?

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